… and somehow, that’s what would interfere with temporal continuity. That’s got to be it. Neilson has to be the key. That’s why Darkness didn’t tell us any more than he did. It’s the only possible explanation that makes any sense. Whatever it is we have to do regarding Neilson, we’re going to have to do it at a specific time. And there’s no way we could know what that time is unless Darkness tells us. Only if he told us in advance we’d have to kill him, we’d do everything in our power to find some other way around it. He’s trying to make sure that we won’t have a chance to do that, Damn. Damn, damn, damn!”
“We’ve got to find Finn,” she said. “If he runs into Scott before we warn him about this. he’s liable to take it on his own to do something.”
“You’re right. He took a room over at the Aztec Rooming House. You head on over there, and if he’s not in. check the Capitol Saloon over on Fremont, then the Can Can Restaurant over on Allen. I’ll start at Hafford’s across the street and work my way down through the Occidental, the Alhambra and the Oriental. If he’s not in his room, he’s got to be in one of those places, following up on Ben Stone. We’ll meet back here.”
“Got it.”
“God, whatever it is. I hope it doesn’t happen tonight, before we get a chance to find Delaney.” He got up and put on his coat.
“Then let’s not waste any time,” she said, heading for the door.
Ben Stone was in the last saloon Finn checked, the Oriental. Going by his own statements. Stone was breaking his pattern. He said he liked playing in different saloons after he lost. “to keep his luck fresh.” Only here he was, in the Oriental once again. Why? Because this was where they met the last time?
“You’re waiting for me, aren’t you, you son of a bitch?” Finn mumbled under his breath as he spotted Stone sitting at a table in the back. He glanced around at the room. There were some cowboys sitting in a group at a couple of tables, a few card games going on. None of the Tombstone lawmen were in evidence. Holliday sitting in on a card game with Stone and a couple of the townspeople. And Scott Neilson at the bar. talking to Jenny. The moment Jenny spotted him, she waved him over.
“Finn, I’d like you to meet Scott, the Montana Kid. Scott, this is the kind gentleman who helped me the other day.”
“We already know each other, Jenny,” Neilson said, keeping his voice low and checking to see that they weren’t overheard. “Finn’s one of the people I was telling you about.”
Delaney glanced at him, startled. He couldn’t possibly have… no. he must have devised some sort of cover story for the girl. Which could pose a problem. since he hadn’t admitted knowing Scott before, when he’d met her. But there was nothing else to do but play along with it.
“How’re you doing, Kid? It’s been a while?
“Where have you been?” Neilson said, in a low voice. “Did you just clock in? Are Lucas and Andre with you?”
Delaney stared at him with disbelief, then glanced at Jenny with alarm.
“What the hell are you doing?” he whispered.
“It’s okay.” Scott replied. “She knows all about it.”
Delaney couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You told her? Are you crazy?”
“Finn, we have to talk.” said Scott, quietly. He glanced at Jenny. “She’s not who you think she is. She’s one of Drakov’s hominoids.”
Delaney caught his breath. “Holy shit! What the hell-”
“You’re the fella that busted up some of my boys the other night, ain’t ‘cha?” said a voice behind him, before he could finish.
Scott’s hands flashed to his coat and the two pearl-handled Colts leaped from their holsters. There were several audible clicks as he cocked them.
“Say, take it easy there. Kid.” the man said, slowly opening his coat. “I’m not heeled.” There were two other men standing beside him. “My friends ain’t. neither?
“What do you want, Clanton?” Scott asked.
“We don’t want any trouble.” said Ike Clanton; as Delaney turned to face him he was a large man, with light, curly hair, a moustache and a thin goatee. One look and Delaney didn’t like him. “And I wanted to be sure you understood that. seem’ as how you seem friendly with this here gentleman and your girl, Jenny, was involved.”
“Say your piece. Ike.” Scott lowered the hammers and put away his guns.
“You met my friends, here?” Clanton said, indicating the two men with him. “This here’s Johnny Ringo. And this gent is Curly Bill Brocius.”
“Any friends of yours, Ike, ain’t no friends of mine.” said Neilson.
“Say, now. I was just bein’ polite,” said Clanton. “I don’t believe I know this gentleman.”
“The name’s Delaney,” Finn said, watching the men carefully. “Finn Delaney.”
“Irishman, eh?”
“What can I do for you, Mr. Clanton?”
“Well. I just wanted to come over and apologize on behalf of my boys.” said Ike. “They had a mite too much whiskey yesterday and got out of line a bit.”
“More than a bit, I’d say,’ Delaney replied. “And any apologies should be addressed to this young lady.”
“I reckon so,” said Clanton. “Jenny, I’m right sorry about what happened. There wasn’t no call for it. I sure hope you won’t go bearin’ us a grudge.”
“I accept your apology, Ike,” she said.
“I ain’t gonna be so easy,” Scott said.
“Well, now, I figured that.” said Clanton, “which is why I’m keepin’ those boys out of town for a while. Fact is, they’re feelin’ poorly anyway, after what Mr. Delaney here did to ’em.”
“They got off lucky.” said Scott, if I’d been here. I would’ve killed them.
“Well, now, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” said Ike. “I don’t want any bad blood between you and my boys if I can help it. They’re right sorry about what they done. I talked to ’em and made sure they wouldn’t be bearin’ your friend here any grudges. I don’t want any trouble. Now they promised to behave themselves and they didn’t really understand about you and Jenny. They do now. Seein’ as no harm was really done, except a little to my boys. I’m hopin’ we can just patch things up and forget about the whole thing That is, if you’re agreeable.”
Scott stared hard at Clanton. “If you really mean that, Ike, then I’m agreeable. But you keep your rustlin’ lowlifes away from Jenny or I’ll have something to say about it, understand? And I’ll be sayin’ it to you.”
“Hey.” said Ike, raising his hands up to his chest. “I got no problem with that. Looks like we understand each other. I’m happy we could work it out. Will you have a drink on it? I’ll buy. That goes for you too, mister.” he added, looking at Delaney. “Frank, whiskey for my friends here.”
Delaney was paying less attention to Ike Clanton than to the two men with him. Brocius and Ringo. Both hard-looking men, with eyes that met his gaze dead on. Gunfighters. Men who looked as if they knew their business.
Brocius shifted his gaze to Neilson. “You’re pretty quick with those fancy guns of yours.” he said.
“I hear tell you’re pretty quick, yourself,” Scott replied.
“I wonder which one of us is quicker.” Curly Bill said, with a smile.
“You want to find out’?” asked Neilson.
“Scott!” said Jenny.
“Hey. now, wait…” started Clanton.
Delaney took Scott by the arm. “Don’t push it.” he said. firmly.
“Anytime. Kid.” Brocius said.
“Now hold on just a minute.” said Delaney.
“Relax. Finn.” said Scott. “We can find out right here and now, without anybody getting hurt. You game, Curly Bill?”
Brocius narrowed his eyes. “What you got in mind?”
“I see you’re wearing a two-gun rig, too,” said Scott. “You take one gun and give it to Ike. I’ll take one of mine and give it to Finn. Then we each take the gun we got left and give them both to Frank, here, to unload. We put the empty guns back in our holsters and Frank will say the word. Then we draw and dry fire.”
By now, the other people in the saloon were aware of what was going on and they had started to gather around.